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Ephemera
Nester Cab, a second rate magazine writer, goes about his mundane life, disenfranchised and hiding from the city he lives in. But, a mysterious note left in his office awakens his ravenous curiosity and sets him on a journey to find a missing soldier. In his travels, he becomes entangled with a clandestine anti-government organization, witnesses a delusional and violent American society and stumbles ever deeper into unfathomable government conspiracies. Inspired by Internet conspiracy theorists, talk radio, and the media, Ephemera explores the visions of the ideological voices in American society and speaks to all of us through the extreme that permeates modern life. With satirical humor and sorrowful sentiment, Cab encounters a bizarre set of madmen, killers and megalomaniacs. He struggles with his search for truth as he flees for his life and the right to reclaim it. Where the forces of good lie is never clear, but, with certainty, Cab’s journey will lead to an ending that is epic and unforgettable.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2011
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 5, 2011
Nester Cab has always wanted to do something, go somewhere, maybe make a difference in the world. He eschews most of the gadgets and gimmicks of modern technology and convenience that is driven by consumerism and greed, and does his own little things to fight against it. But he’s not quite prepared for the turn his life takes when he is thrust into the middle of a war between radical outcasts and power hungry politicians.
As a mother in this new technological era, I have often been known to say that we are raising a generation of kids who don’t know how to be alone. Access to their friends is always immediate and constant through smart phones, texting, and internet social sites. The idea that you can be ‘unplugged’ for days at a time is a foreign concept; one that may lead to an early dramatic death – either from boredom or withdrawal.
In Ephemera, Jeffery M. Anderson brings this idea to the extreme. The world has gone mad with technology and marketing. Movies aren’t just movies, they’re sales platforms. Sunglasses don’t just protect your eyes from the sun, they allow you to surf the internet while walking down the street. Cars don’t need to be driven, just sit back while the car does all the work for you. The world has become a place where people no longer have to think for themselves. It has become a world where the general public is susceptible to the evil machinations of the power hungry minds of politicians; politicians who have no problem taking over their thinking for them.
Ephemera is a book that will make you laugh and cringe – sometimes at the same time. Action abounds with kidnappings, murder, and intrigue. Humor is sprinkled in with odd characters and the reality of everyday life in a truly technological world. Political corruption is showcased as those in power purposely create information that will mislead and control the public. But most of all, Ephemera makes you think about the course society is on and about how far we want to let it go.
Jeffery M. Anderson does an excellent job of bringing home the idea that we need to be more aware of technology’s impact on us as human beings. His writing style grabs the reader and pulls him or her in with an engrossing plot and characters that range from charming to terrifying. Reminiscent of the works of Christopher Buckley, Ephemera brought me on a journey I hope to only read about, and never have it become reality. If at times a bit preachy, sometimes overselling the point, it is none the less a book that should be read and pondered.
One side observation that must be written about, though, is the cover of the book. Once the book is read, it makes perfect sense. As a book that may be sitting on a stand at the bookstore, I don’t know that it would have begged me to pick it up to discover what it was hiding. For me, it doesn’t capture the essence of the book’s content which is a shame. I hate to think the book is being passed over by potential readers because of a cover that doesn’t give a feel for the treasures inside.
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading Ephemera. I would like to thank the author for offering to share his work with me and providing me with a review copy. I give the book four and a half stars.
As a mother in this new technological era, I have often been known to say that we are raising a generation of kids who don’t know how to be alone. Access to their friends is always immediate and constant through smart phones, texting, and internet social sites. The idea that you can be ‘unplugged’ for days at a time is a foreign concept; one that may lead to an early dramatic death – either from boredom or withdrawal.
In Ephemera, Jeffery M. Anderson brings this idea to the extreme. The world has gone mad with technology and marketing. Movies aren’t just movies, they’re sales platforms. Sunglasses don’t just protect your eyes from the sun, they allow you to surf the internet while walking down the street. Cars don’t need to be driven, just sit back while the car does all the work for you. The world has become a place where people no longer have to think for themselves. It has become a world where the general public is susceptible to the evil machinations of the power hungry minds of politicians; politicians who have no problem taking over their thinking for them.
Ephemera is a book that will make you laugh and cringe – sometimes at the same time. Action abounds with kidnappings, murder, and intrigue. Humor is sprinkled in with odd characters and the reality of everyday life in a truly technological world. Political corruption is showcased as those in power purposely create information that will mislead and control the public. But most of all, Ephemera makes you think about the course society is on and about how far we want to let it go.
Jeffery M. Anderson does an excellent job of bringing home the idea that we need to be more aware of technology’s impact on us as human beings. His writing style grabs the reader and pulls him or her in with an engrossing plot and characters that range from charming to terrifying. Reminiscent of the works of Christopher Buckley, Ephemera brought me on a journey I hope to only read about, and never have it become reality. If at times a bit preachy, sometimes overselling the point, it is none the less a book that should be read and pondered.
One side observation that must be written about, though, is the cover of the book. Once the book is read, it makes perfect sense. As a book that may be sitting on a stand at the bookstore, I don’t know that it would have begged me to pick it up to discover what it was hiding. For me, it doesn’t capture the essence of the book’s content which is a shame. I hate to think the book is being passed over by potential readers because of a cover that doesn’t give a feel for the treasures inside.
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading Ephemera. I would like to thank the author for offering to share his work with me and providing me with a review copy. I give the book four and a half stars.
October 12, 2011
Creative, fresh futuristic literature, with disturbing undertones.
I do not recommend EPHEMERA to just anyone, however if you love futuristic suspense and drama and have a vivid imagination, you will truly enjoy this book as I have. The opening setting for this book is New York City some time in the future where advertising and media streaming have engulfed society in it's entirety. New York has always been ahead of its time and now even awnings project ads amongst the wads of flattened gum on the concrete sidewalks and holograms are totally mainstream. People have pods instead of cell phones, celereaders are a replacement for all paper media, the sound of your voice activates lights and home functions, and cash is now non-existent and even useless to the homeless. The main character Nester Cab has the personality of a loner and his compulsive hording of everything from the past gives us a clue, that even in this advanced society disorders of the mind still haunt its inhabitants. Yet it leaves one to contemplate the irony that maybe hording is a disorder of our societies rapid advance and need to have it all. When one looks at it from this perspective. Nestor lives in a two bedroom flat with an older model dysfunctional robotic dog. Since pets are not allowed in the confines of New York City, at least anymore, unless they are an electronically programed version called a housemate. Aida his co-worker seems to be his only real friend, yet Aida doesn't seem to have much of a life of her own. In Anderson's book the world seems totally broken, yet there still are suburbs and there still is farmland and there are still people who are risking everything to make a difference. Which is exactly where Nestor ends up, as Nestor has been chosen by an underground organization called the NLA, who the government tries to disclaim and discredit and constantly blame for terroristic attacks. These attacks, which are carried out by the governments own elite group on its own soil and population, are blamed on the NLA. I love how Nestor's job title is a reviewer of reviews, very creative on Anderson's part. It is easy to picture Nestor's character, the reasons why he is chosen by the NLA are also very clear, as Nestor is an unconventional writer who tells it like it is. I found Ephemera to be a bundle of creativity and conspiracy that was hard to put down. Ephemera is not complete fiction as Anderson throws in some actual facts throughout the book. Those include cities like Bethlehem, PA which does exist, as I was raised in that town. Anderson also throws in some tidbits about Hitler, his scientists and other facts including the Paper Clip project and lets not forget those UFOs. Anderson has the most vivid imagination I have ever come across in a futuristic novel and he left me in awe throughout this book. Ephemera is a fresh and invigorating narrative that at times can be quite scary when envisioned. It left a lingering sour taste and metallic feeling that was hard to shake off. When even rationalizing, it does not ease the reflection of what is hidden away by government, what it can mutate into and what society may someday behold.
I do not recommend EPHEMERA to just anyone, however if you love futuristic suspense and drama and have a vivid imagination, you will truly enjoy this book as I have. The opening setting for this book is New York City some time in the future where advertising and media streaming have engulfed society in it's entirety. New York has always been ahead of its time and now even awnings project ads amongst the wads of flattened gum on the concrete sidewalks and holograms are totally mainstream. People have pods instead of cell phones, celereaders are a replacement for all paper media, the sound of your voice activates lights and home functions, and cash is now non-existent and even useless to the homeless. The main character Nester Cab has the personality of a loner and his compulsive hording of everything from the past gives us a clue, that even in this advanced society disorders of the mind still haunt its inhabitants. Yet it leaves one to contemplate the irony that maybe hording is a disorder of our societies rapid advance and need to have it all. When one looks at it from this perspective. Nestor lives in a two bedroom flat with an older model dysfunctional robotic dog. Since pets are not allowed in the confines of New York City, at least anymore, unless they are an electronically programed version called a housemate. Aida his co-worker seems to be his only real friend, yet Aida doesn't seem to have much of a life of her own. In Anderson's book the world seems totally broken, yet there still are suburbs and there still is farmland and there are still people who are risking everything to make a difference. Which is exactly where Nestor ends up, as Nestor has been chosen by an underground organization called the NLA, who the government tries to disclaim and discredit and constantly blame for terroristic attacks. These attacks, which are carried out by the governments own elite group on its own soil and population, are blamed on the NLA. I love how Nestor's job title is a reviewer of reviews, very creative on Anderson's part. It is easy to picture Nestor's character, the reasons why he is chosen by the NLA are also very clear, as Nestor is an unconventional writer who tells it like it is. I found Ephemera to be a bundle of creativity and conspiracy that was hard to put down. Ephemera is not complete fiction as Anderson throws in some actual facts throughout the book. Those include cities like Bethlehem, PA which does exist, as I was raised in that town. Anderson also throws in some tidbits about Hitler, his scientists and other facts including the Paper Clip project and lets not forget those UFOs. Anderson has the most vivid imagination I have ever come across in a futuristic novel and he left me in awe throughout this book. Ephemera is a fresh and invigorating narrative that at times can be quite scary when envisioned. It left a lingering sour taste and metallic feeling that was hard to shake off. When even rationalizing, it does not ease the reflection of what is hidden away by government, what it can mutate into and what society may someday behold.
September 1, 2011
I love a good conspiracy story. Before I moved and actually had a lot more bookshelf space, I had an entire two shelves dedicated to conspiracies. I’m not saying I believe all of them, or even the majority of them, but they are fascinating to read about nonetheless. Ephemera by Jeffrey M. Anderson is sort of a conspiracy story, but it’s also much more. It’s part dystopian, part utopian, part political intrigue, part dark humor, and part something else entirely that I can’t describe. It’s a commentary on today’s society as well as a cautionary tale of what’s to come. All of that in just the first 100 pages.
The story largely centers on Nester Cab, who has the ridiculous job of reviewing reviewers (gods, I hope that never catches on). In the beginning of the book, he is writing a scathing review on movie critic’s review of a movie. He’s mostly a sour, unhappy man, and nothing really seems to perk him up. Not even his robotic German Shepherd (city dwellers are no longer allowed to have pets without jumping through hoops to get a permit). Maybe it has to do with the constant stream of advertising that he is subjected to while living in the city. Having ads projecting onto the foreheads of your friends while you’re talking to them would be enough to make anyone grumpy, although most people in Anderson’s world don’t seem to mind it. Advertising is the most valuable commodity in a post-modern America where we have basically collapsed into total financial ruin (maybe it’s not really all that post-modern after all). Cash is dead, advertising credit is king.
Cab is going about his normal, unpleasant life when he quite suddenly and expectantly receives a message that he should out what happened to a missing soldier. His journey leads him out of the city and into Bethlehem, PA (which is actually about a half hour from my house). There, he encounters numerous and increasingly bizarre violent fringe members of society and anti-government organizations, including the neo-Luddite army, who end up kidnapping Cab.
The story takes some strange twists and turns, and it’s very surreal at many times, but it was definitely interesting and unique. To be honest, none of the characters are really all that likable, but somehow I still wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. As a long-time fan of David Lynch, I enjoy surreal tales that leave you wondering if you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole every few pages. This is definitely one of those books that you have to be in the right mood for, and you have to have a strong appreciation for very dark and sardonic humor.
The story largely centers on Nester Cab, who has the ridiculous job of reviewing reviewers (gods, I hope that never catches on). In the beginning of the book, he is writing a scathing review on movie critic’s review of a movie. He’s mostly a sour, unhappy man, and nothing really seems to perk him up. Not even his robotic German Shepherd (city dwellers are no longer allowed to have pets without jumping through hoops to get a permit). Maybe it has to do with the constant stream of advertising that he is subjected to while living in the city. Having ads projecting onto the foreheads of your friends while you’re talking to them would be enough to make anyone grumpy, although most people in Anderson’s world don’t seem to mind it. Advertising is the most valuable commodity in a post-modern America where we have basically collapsed into total financial ruin (maybe it’s not really all that post-modern after all). Cash is dead, advertising credit is king.
Cab is going about his normal, unpleasant life when he quite suddenly and expectantly receives a message that he should out what happened to a missing soldier. His journey leads him out of the city and into Bethlehem, PA (which is actually about a half hour from my house). There, he encounters numerous and increasingly bizarre violent fringe members of society and anti-government organizations, including the neo-Luddite army, who end up kidnapping Cab.
The story takes some strange twists and turns, and it’s very surreal at many times, but it was definitely interesting and unique. To be honest, none of the characters are really all that likable, but somehow I still wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. As a long-time fan of David Lynch, I enjoy surreal tales that leave you wondering if you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole every few pages. This is definitely one of those books that you have to be in the right mood for, and you have to have a strong appreciation for very dark and sardonic humor.
July 5, 2011
Futuristic dystopia
This is not a simple book, a quick read, your standard action thriller. Reminding me of Bladerunner and Kurt Vonnegut’s Player Piano, the sophisticated literary voice and postmodern antihero require more of the reader. This is the gritty, dark, unpleasant side of life, and even the protagonist, with the unlikely name of Nester Cab, has so many flaws that empathizing with him becomes difficult toward the end of the novel.
This dystopian society is controlled by corporate profiteers, and through it, Anderson manages to shine a harsh light on aspects of our own society: not only consumerism but also anticonsumer activism, not only those who blindly adopt technology but also technophobes, not only religion but also those who quest after material goods as a substitute for spiritual exploration. Although the kingmaker who proves to be the antagonist is brought down at the end, this is not accomplished via the typical beat-the-bad-guy happy ending. In fact, very little about this novel is representative of the genre.
Beyond the larger plot and theme, there are the stylistic details. Anderson’s reliance on active dialogue tags (‘“I know,” she sang defensively’; ‘“Well,” she swam in her own buzzing head’; ‘“. . . on a holiday weekend,” she popped’), for example, sometimes made me yearn for a simple “he said” or “she exclaimed.” In addition, this may be a challenge to readers’ vocabulary, as when one character “flexed a nare.” Some lengthy dialogue sections allow one character to lecture to several others or contain fruitless arguments, and these, along with the detailed worldbuilding, are more common in literary and futuristic fiction than in thrillers.
Some of the characters (such as Smedley Butler, the leader of the Neo-Luddite movement) are even bizarre enough that they would not be out of place in the pages of literary or experimental fiction. I hope we are not supposed to find ourselves in these largely unpleasant characters, however.
This book may seem at first to portray a genuine potential reality, but the execution of it takes us further and further along a metaphorical journey that in its unrealism eventually gets at least one point across: how can we preserve our own humanity in a bureaucratically and technologically advanced society?
This is not a simple book, a quick read, your standard action thriller. Reminding me of Bladerunner and Kurt Vonnegut’s Player Piano, the sophisticated literary voice and postmodern antihero require more of the reader. This is the gritty, dark, unpleasant side of life, and even the protagonist, with the unlikely name of Nester Cab, has so many flaws that empathizing with him becomes difficult toward the end of the novel.
This dystopian society is controlled by corporate profiteers, and through it, Anderson manages to shine a harsh light on aspects of our own society: not only consumerism but also anticonsumer activism, not only those who blindly adopt technology but also technophobes, not only religion but also those who quest after material goods as a substitute for spiritual exploration. Although the kingmaker who proves to be the antagonist is brought down at the end, this is not accomplished via the typical beat-the-bad-guy happy ending. In fact, very little about this novel is representative of the genre.
Beyond the larger plot and theme, there are the stylistic details. Anderson’s reliance on active dialogue tags (‘“I know,” she sang defensively’; ‘“Well,” she swam in her own buzzing head’; ‘“. . . on a holiday weekend,” she popped’), for example, sometimes made me yearn for a simple “he said” or “she exclaimed.” In addition, this may be a challenge to readers’ vocabulary, as when one character “flexed a nare.” Some lengthy dialogue sections allow one character to lecture to several others or contain fruitless arguments, and these, along with the detailed worldbuilding, are more common in literary and futuristic fiction than in thrillers.
Some of the characters (such as Smedley Butler, the leader of the Neo-Luddite movement) are even bizarre enough that they would not be out of place in the pages of literary or experimental fiction. I hope we are not supposed to find ourselves in these largely unpleasant characters, however.
This book may seem at first to portray a genuine potential reality, but the execution of it takes us further and further along a metaphorical journey that in its unrealism eventually gets at least one point across: how can we preserve our own humanity in a bureaucratically and technologically advanced society?
June 16, 2011
Although the seeds were planted earlier, dystopian literature has flourished in 20th century nutrients -- the rise of fascism, ideological conflicts, global industrialization, and seemingly limitless advances in technology. Pessimism isn't a prerequisite to realize there is a potentially detrimental synergy in the coalescence of these changes. It undoubtedly provides plenty of opportunity to envision a future that may be more hellish than heavenly.
It's from ground like this that an America a couple decades from now arises in Jeffery M. Anderson's Ephemera . Having gone through recession, depression, collapse of its monetary system, and reorganization of its political structure, this is a society where people focus -- or are led to focus -- on the ephemera of life. City streets are flooded with digital advertisements, whether cast on the sidewalk, on air blimps or audio directed at passers-by. People can earn merchandise or credits, the basis of the monetary system, by working specific products into conversations with others. Urbanites walk down the street wearing "Web shades," glasses with one opaque lens displaying a satellite feed to the Internet "for endless entertainment in the seconds between life's other entertainments." News reports occasionally mention substantive items, such as the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but even they fall by the wayside for important events such as the finals of of America's Toughest Wrestler.
Government, meanwhile, reflects (or creates) society. The country's first female president is little more than a figurehead, elected to office by reflecting and massaging public opinion. Real power rests in the hands of Secretary of Commerce Linus Stillman, who has been a mover and shaker in government since Ronald Reagan's second term. The cabinet includes a Secretary of Advertising, tasked with representing the interests of advertising companies, and a Secretary of Media, who represents the interests of the country's two media conglomerates. Media and advertising are the opiates of the masses.
Anderson's protagonist is Nester Cab, a 38-year-old writer for The Reviewer's Review. Rather than review movies, books and music, the magazine reviews those who review such items. As unlikely a candidate as he might be, Cab embarks on a search for a soldier after a mysterious message is left at his desk. Cab's search brings him in contact with the Neo-Luddite Army, a grassroots protest group that seems to be growing more violent. The NLA essentially kidnaps Cab to convince him of the truth of its evidence of massive government conspiracies. The NLA's leader clearly has psychological problems, adding to Cab's concern over whether he can believe the organization. Yet NLA's leader and members, Stillman's supporters or Aida, Cab's closest friend, never really reached the level of fully realized characters. Cab and Stillman are by far the most developed characters and, oddly, the antagonist, Stillman, is easier to grasp than Cab.
As its name indicates, the NLA is wary of the mind-numbing effects of certain technology but its true ideological roots seem akin to the Tea Party. "We were never meant to have full-time, ever-growing bureaucracy whose sole intent is to constantly crank out new limits on us," one NLA member tells Cab. Likewise, the NLA's almost inadvertent leader says it "uncovered the modern patriots. Conversations evolved from excessive property taxes to reclaiming the federal government." Although far from as politically motivated or direct, the political foundations of the NLA and the government-driven conspiracies means Ephemera may bring last year's novel by Glenn Beck to the mind of somewhat politically attuned readers.
Anderson, though, deserves credit for not expressly espousing or endorsing any particular political viewpoint. The dystopia is not shaped by aspects of society that concern only one end of the political spectrum. You can find elements that concern each side and, in fact, the book may suggest that, at times, the extreme ends are more closely aligned than they might think. Somewhat inconsistent pacing keeps Ephemera from a page-turning thriller. Still, Anderson hides the ball well enough that the reader remains intrigued about exactly what Stillman has up his sleeve and the purpose of some of the deceptions the NLA uncovered. This helps maintain the tension between who is wearing the white hats and who the black hats. Both sides are sufficiently gray throughout the novel, although when the ultimate plot is unveiled it is akin to that of a James Bond villain and one wonders about just how and why we got there.
Ephemera is a workmanlike dystopian set piece that finds a credible basis in modern America, particularly public infatuation with ephemera and diversions over substance and reality. While an entertaining read, it is ultimately unlikely to make anyone's list of the best dystopian novels of the last decade or two.
(Originally posted at A Progressive on the Prairie.)
It's from ground like this that an America a couple decades from now arises in Jeffery M. Anderson's Ephemera . Having gone through recession, depression, collapse of its monetary system, and reorganization of its political structure, this is a society where people focus -- or are led to focus -- on the ephemera of life. City streets are flooded with digital advertisements, whether cast on the sidewalk, on air blimps or audio directed at passers-by. People can earn merchandise or credits, the basis of the monetary system, by working specific products into conversations with others. Urbanites walk down the street wearing "Web shades," glasses with one opaque lens displaying a satellite feed to the Internet "for endless entertainment in the seconds between life's other entertainments." News reports occasionally mention substantive items, such as the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but even they fall by the wayside for important events such as the finals of of America's Toughest Wrestler.
Government, meanwhile, reflects (or creates) society. The country's first female president is little more than a figurehead, elected to office by reflecting and massaging public opinion. Real power rests in the hands of Secretary of Commerce Linus Stillman, who has been a mover and shaker in government since Ronald Reagan's second term. The cabinet includes a Secretary of Advertising, tasked with representing the interests of advertising companies, and a Secretary of Media, who represents the interests of the country's two media conglomerates. Media and advertising are the opiates of the masses.
Anderson's protagonist is Nester Cab, a 38-year-old writer for The Reviewer's Review. Rather than review movies, books and music, the magazine reviews those who review such items. As unlikely a candidate as he might be, Cab embarks on a search for a soldier after a mysterious message is left at his desk. Cab's search brings him in contact with the Neo-Luddite Army, a grassroots protest group that seems to be growing more violent. The NLA essentially kidnaps Cab to convince him of the truth of its evidence of massive government conspiracies. The NLA's leader clearly has psychological problems, adding to Cab's concern over whether he can believe the organization. Yet NLA's leader and members, Stillman's supporters or Aida, Cab's closest friend, never really reached the level of fully realized characters. Cab and Stillman are by far the most developed characters and, oddly, the antagonist, Stillman, is easier to grasp than Cab.
As its name indicates, the NLA is wary of the mind-numbing effects of certain technology but its true ideological roots seem akin to the Tea Party. "We were never meant to have full-time, ever-growing bureaucracy whose sole intent is to constantly crank out new limits on us," one NLA member tells Cab. Likewise, the NLA's almost inadvertent leader says it "uncovered the modern patriots. Conversations evolved from excessive property taxes to reclaiming the federal government." Although far from as politically motivated or direct, the political foundations of the NLA and the government-driven conspiracies means Ephemera may bring last year's novel by Glenn Beck to the mind of somewhat politically attuned readers.
Anderson, though, deserves credit for not expressly espousing or endorsing any particular political viewpoint. The dystopia is not shaped by aspects of society that concern only one end of the political spectrum. You can find elements that concern each side and, in fact, the book may suggest that, at times, the extreme ends are more closely aligned than they might think. Somewhat inconsistent pacing keeps Ephemera from a page-turning thriller. Still, Anderson hides the ball well enough that the reader remains intrigued about exactly what Stillman has up his sleeve and the purpose of some of the deceptions the NLA uncovered. This helps maintain the tension between who is wearing the white hats and who the black hats. Both sides are sufficiently gray throughout the novel, although when the ultimate plot is unveiled it is akin to that of a James Bond villain and one wonders about just how and why we got there.
Ephemera is a workmanlike dystopian set piece that finds a credible basis in modern America, particularly public infatuation with ephemera and diversions over substance and reality. While an entertaining read, it is ultimately unlikely to make anyone's list of the best dystopian novels of the last decade or two.
(Originally posted at A Progressive on the Prairie.)
July 11, 2012
Ephemera is a complex and at times disturbing dystopian novel. It paints a vivid picture of an America in the near future where a toxic cocktail of intrusive technology and a deceitful government have produced a land where liberty is in jeopardy and ignorance is an epidemic. The protagonist, Nester Cab, is a humble if unusually principled cog in the machinery of this future U.S.A. He is a journalist who writes reviews of reviews. This job is symbolic of the cynicism that is woven into the story. This book stands out from the indie "herd" in terms of the quality of the writing, the near-flawless editing and pacing, and the creative and at times hilarious takes on modern day "archetypes" such as the "redneck", the religious fundamentalist, the scheming politician, and the tin foil hat conspiracy theorist. I admire the careful craftsmanship that went into this novel, and I can recommend it on the strength of that alone. The only problem I had with the book was that I never truly empathized with Nester Cab or felt that he was motivated by anything more than a persistent, cynical curiousity. But it's possible that my own new age leanings just couldn't completely sync with the tone of the characterization. This is a book with excellent prose and editing, and it's a book that's ambitious, witty, smart and takes risks.
March 2, 2012
Nestor Cab lives in a world oversaturated with technology and commercialism. A reviewer of reviews by trade, he is disillusioned by the never-ending product placement he sees not only in the media, but permeated throughout everyday society. When he finds a picture of a soldier supposedly fighting overseas, along with enigmatic note on his desk, his quest to find the truth behind it sends him down a rabbit hole from which he will never resurface.
Anderson proves himself a true wordsmith in this breakout dystopian novel, offering a world filled with vivid detail, beautiful word choice, and well-defined characters. While the first chapter did not hook me, the second chapter did, and I found myself eager to find out where Anderson was going with the story’s many twists and turns. My main criticism with this work is there were parts that felt a bit long-winded, with extended back-story given on even minor characters and several monologues that, while making brilliant points, could have been much tighter. Still, I enjoyed this book (I thought the ending was fantastic) and look forward to more of this author’s works. I rate this book 4.25 stars.
Anderson proves himself a true wordsmith in this breakout dystopian novel, offering a world filled with vivid detail, beautiful word choice, and well-defined characters. While the first chapter did not hook me, the second chapter did, and I found myself eager to find out where Anderson was going with the story’s many twists and turns. My main criticism with this work is there were parts that felt a bit long-winded, with extended back-story given on even minor characters and several monologues that, while making brilliant points, could have been much tighter. Still, I enjoyed this book (I thought the ending was fantastic) and look forward to more of this author’s works. I rate this book 4.25 stars.
July 26, 2012
Ephemera is the highly enjoyable, if at times challenging debut novel by Jeffery M. Anderson. It falls fully into the category of interstitial literature, which means it dips it toes into a huge number of genres. Exciting, engaging and wryly funny, I greatly enjoyed this book, but feel that others may find its genre slipping style challenging. Regardless, I suggest you come to it with no expectations as to where it will take you, and I suspect you will enjoy it as much as I did.
For a full review go to: http://wp.me/pWa2h-nm
For a full review go to: http://wp.me/pWa2h-nm
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